Page 123 of Dr. Damaged Protector

“Thank you.”

****

“I'd like to report a missing person,” I said to the police officer.

“I understand,” he responded. “When was the last time you saw her or him?”

“She was last seen around four p.m. today,” I said.

“You can't report someone missing if it hasn't been up to twenty-four hours,” he said with a tired look on his face - like he had to explain this to a lot of people who still didn't get it.

“I know, but she's never late,” I tried to convince him. “It was late, and she's…”

“Maybe she just went to stay over at a friend's house?”

“She wouldn't do that.”

“Sure, I understand your worries. Just wait, and if she isn't here by tomorrow, we will step in.”

He was absolutely useless.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I groaned.

There has to be something I'm missing out. Think Lucas. Think.

She went to see a friend. I thought about it: could it be Kate? The image of that evil man formed in my mind. He was most likely the one she went to meet. Could he have taken her?

“Officer, what if it's a kidnapping, and I have the suspect?” I asked.

“Do you have an image of the suspect?” he asked with that same tired look.

I pulled out my phone and showed him the photo I had taken of the guy when he had come to see Olivia another time. The officer zoomed in and stared at it in disbelief, like he had seen something forbidden.

He called another officer and showed him the image. The other officer shook his head like he was afraid of something.

“Is there a problem, officers?” I asked.

“No there's nothing wrong,” the first officer replied. “Just try coming back again if you've not seen her after twenty-four hours.”

“I understand, but do you know who this man is?” I asked.

“No I'm not sure,” the first officer replied.

The second officer definitely knew something, but he just shook his head negatively, even before I asked him. They knew and were hiding something. That only led me into more panic. Who was this person? What did he want from Olivia?

Has she involved herself with someone very dangerous?

****

“Did you have any luck?” Jane asked. “She hasn't been back at the hospital.”

“There has been no sign of her?” I asked.

“I even sent someone else to the cafe to ask again,” she replied. “How about the police?”

“Those cowards know something but they won't tell me,” I explained. “Let's keep looking.”

I drove to the superstore, where I had first met the man. Then I drove to the bigger one that Olivia often frequented for grocery shopping. I asked the attendants if they had seen her or the man in the picture.

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